Propelling device for store-service apparatus.



PROPELLING DEVICE FOR STORE SERVICE APPARATlLS. APPLlCATiON FILED FEB. 7, 1912.

Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (3a., WASHINGTON, D. c.

H. J. HICK.

PROPELLING DEVICE FOR STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-7,1912. 1,146,16Q Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IIl/IIIIlI/I/l/llllll! lltifllflllllftltflldltiillz COLUMBIA Iil-ANDGRAPH do.,wAsmgm1-oN. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY J'. I-IIGK, 0F ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, OF BOSTGN, MASSACHUSETTS, ACORPORATIDN OF NEW JERSEY.

PROPELLING- DEVICE FOR STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented July 13, 1915.

Application filed February 7, 1912. Serial No. 676,116.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY J. HIOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propelling Devices for Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the propelling mechanism of a cash and parcel carrier system and has for its object to improve the construction of the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated two embodiments of my improvements, from a consideration of which, taken in connection with this specification, the invention may be understood.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal vertical section of another form or embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the track, which is preferably a taut wire, along which travels the cash or parcel carrier 3, whichmay be of any usual .or preferred construction. The carrier shown is represented as having a pair of supporting wheels, 4, 4, that engage with the track, and contact rollers, 5, 5, preferably one at each end, with which the catch device of the propelling mechanism engages. The track wire is secured in a fixed and stationary frame, which I have represented as comprising a hanger or bracket arm, 6, carrying at its lower end a socket 7 9 indicates a yoke united by a vertical bolt or swivel, 8, with the socket 7, and by hori- I zontal pivots 11 with the frame piece 10 with which the track wire is directly connected, and which is thus supported from the hanger 6 by a universal joint or connection. The frame piece 10. as I prefer to construct it, consists essentially of a head 12, a pair of parallel bars 13, spaced apart and extending from the head 12 to a crosshead 14, a laterally extending bracket 15 at the forward end of the frame, a frontbearing and guide 16, and a connecting piece 17 uniting the cross-head 14 and the bearing 16. These parts, constituting the frame 10, are preferably an integral casting.

18 designates the propelling spring, preferably formed of coiled wire, one end of which is connected with the head 12 of the frame, whenceit extends forward, surround-- ing the track wire 2, through the cross-head l4 and the bearing 16, and preferably some distance beyond that. the spring at its rear, and prevent it from buckling, especially when it is under compression, I employ a support concentric therewith. In the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the support is a rod 19, within the spring and extending forward from a block 20 seated and held within the cross-head 12 of the frame. The block 20 and the rod 19 are both hollow to permit the track wire to pass through them.

The means employed for moving the carrier 3 againstthe spring and putting it under tension, are preferably a cylinder 21, carrying at its front end a catch for engaging with the carrier,and surrounding the spring 18 which it conceals, protects and assists in holding in place against buckling or deflection, and means for'moving the cylinder. ,The cylinder or tube 21 carries a rack 22 with which engagesthe 'pinion 23 mounted upon the shaft 24 of a spring drum device 25 that tends to restore the cylinder to its normal position, that is, to project it forward so as to surround and cover the front end ofthe spring 18. The cylinder or sleeve 21 has, bearings in the crosshead 14 and the guide 16 of the framelO, and carries at its rear end a head 26 that is adapted to bear against the rear of the cross-head 14, in order to limit the forward movement of In order to sustain the cylinder. The spring drum 25 is located within the space inclosed by the lateral bracket 15, and its shaft 24 is mounted in bearings formed in the said bracket and the frame piece17. A cord 27 to the end of which is connected the handle 28, is wrapped about the exterior of the drum 25 which has a seat to receive it.

On the forward end of the cylinder 21 is a catch 29 adapted to engage with one of the contact rollers .5 of the carriage or carrier 3. This catch is preferably in the form of a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted on a head piece 30, and straddles the tube or cylinder 21, as indicated in Fig. 3. One of its arms, that which constitutes the hook or catch for engaging with the contact roller of the carrier, extends forward and is provided with an incline 31 across which the roller 5 travelsas the carriage approaches or leaves the ment with an adjustable trip rod 36 to rock the lever and release the carrier from the catch when the spring has been put under sufficient tension to properly propel the carrier along the track. This trip rod ismounted at 37, 37, in the frame 10 and is held in the positions to which it may be adjusted, by a set screw 38.

The carrier 3, as it approaches the end of the track carrying the propelling device described, comes into engagement with the end of the spring 18. which thus serves as a buffer therefor. I have represented in Fig. 4 a supplemental buffer 39 interposed between the carrier and the end of the spring 18. It is in the form of a coiled spring seated in the block 40 to which the forward end of the spring 18 is attached.

In that form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 4 the rod which supports the rear end of the spring 18 against buckling is hollow, and in the form of a tube 41, concentric with the spring but outside thereof, instead of within the convolutions thereof, as is the rod 19 in the form of the invention already described. When the cylindrical rod 41 is employed, the entire propelling spring is, under normal conditions, incased within a telescopic tube, the forward and outer member of which is the tube 21 and the other member the tube 41. In other respects the rods 19 and 41 are analogous in function.

t will be seen that in both forms of the invention the forward end of the propelling spring is within a sliding tube or cylinder which is adapted to be drawn back so as to leave exposed this part of the spring, when the latter is extended. But when it is compressed, preparatory to propelling the can rier along the track. it is confined within the tube, which, as hereinbefore stated, is then drawn back and serves to support and hold it against buckling. In ordinary use the forward end of the spring is only momentarily projected beyond the tube 21, to wit, when it shoots forward to propel the carrier, at which instant the tube or cylinder 21 is drawn back to bring the catch into engagement with the trip rod 36. Immediately thereafter the spring drum 25 is allowed to restore the cylinder to its normal position covering the forward portion of the spring.

What I claim is 1. In a store service system, the combina tion of a coiled propulsion spring, means at least one side of which extends substantially parallel with said spring for supporting one end portion thereof, freely movable longitudinally relatively thereto and independently thereof, and means for moving the said spring-supporting means as the spring is put under compression, whereby the latter is supported.

2. In a store service system, the combination of a coiled propulsion spring, a tube surrounding a part only of the spring, it being freely movable longitudinally relatively thereto and independently thereof, and means for moving the tube to cover an increasingly larger proportion of the spring as the latter is put under compression.

3. In a store service system, the combination of a hanger, a coiled propulsion spring, a tube surrounding one end portion of the spring and freely movable longitudinally relatively thereto and independently thereof, and means for simultaneously compressing the spring and moving the tube rearwardly with respect to said hanger.

4. In a store service system, the combination of a coiled propulsion spring, a tube normally covering the front portion of the spring, the tube being movable backward to uncover the said portion of the spring, and means for moving the spring and the tube backwardly simultaneously, to compress the spring and at the same time maintaining its forward portion covered by the tube.

5. In a store service system, the combination of a coiled propulsion spring, a stationary rod concentric therewith for sustaining the spring at one end against buckling when under compression, means for supporting against buckling the other end of the spring, such means being freely movable longitudinally relatively to the spring and independently thereof, said spring also being adapted to move independently of said means, in one direction, and means for m0ving the last said spring-supporting means as the spring is put under compression.

6. In a store service system, the combination of a coiled propulsion spring, a rod concentric therewith for sustaining one end of the spring against buckling when under compression, a tube surrounding the other end of the spring and freely longitudinally movable relatively thereto and independently thereof, and over the said spring-sustaining rod, and means for simultaneously moving the said tube and compressing the spring.

7. In a store service system, the combination of a coiled propulsion spring, a tube surrounding one end portion thereof and freely movable longitudinally relatively thereto and independently thereof, a rack carried by the tube, a pinion engaging the -rack, and means for rotating the pinion to move the tube.

, 8. In a store service system, the combina- --tion of a coiled propulsion spring, a tube surrounding the forward end thereof, leaving the extreme end of the spring exposed, and being freely movable longitudinally relatively thereto and independently thereof, a catch for engaging with and holding a carrier, supported by the said tube, and means for moving backwardly the tube,

whereby a carrier with which the catch may engage is moved into contact with the spring to compress it.

9. In a store service system, the combination of a coiled propulsion spring, a tube surrounding one end portion thereof and freely movable longitudinally relatively thereto and independently thereof, a rack carried by the tube, a pinion engaging the rack, a spring drum connected with the pinion to rotate it in a direction to move forward the tube, and a cord wound upon the drum for rotating the latter to move the tube backward.

10. In a store service system, the combination of a track, a spring for propelling a carrier from a station, a carrier engaging device mounted for movement independently of said spring, a carrier adapted, when moved along a determined part of said track in one direction, to deform said spring and store energy therein, means to move said carrier engaging device and thereby said carrier in said direction, and means to release said carrier from said device whereby said spring may project said carrier along said track in a direction opposite that aforesaid.

HARRY J. HICK. Witnesses: T. C. URAN,

HENRY F. POLLOOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. 

